Ore concentrator



Aug. 114, 11923.

J. I. MULLEN ORE CONCENTRATOR Filed Sept. 13. 1921 2 Sheets Shooia 1 V INVENTOR. JOHN I. MuLmiN- u ATTORNEY.

ORE CONCENTRATOR Filed Sept. 13, 1921 2 shscam Shoot 2 BY W Patented Aug. 14, 1923 PATENT QFFHQEO JOHN I. MULLEN, OF NATURITA, (LOLI'JORHAIDO.

can ooncsn'rse'ron Application filed september 13, 1921, Serial No. 500,328.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, J HN T. MULLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Naturita, in the county of Montrose and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Ore Concentrators, of which the following is a specification.

Thi invention relates to ore concentrators and its primary object is to provide an apparatus of simple construction in which values in comminuted solids held in suspension in a liquid are cleanly separated from a heavier residue by opposing currents naturally formed along opposite walls of a slanting vessel from which a continuously supplied liquid overflows at the top thereof.

My invention is based on the principle that the continuous supply of a liquid to a slanting tubeprovided with an overflow at its upper end produces a current which flows upwardly along the uppermost side of the tube and a downwardly directed current which flows along the lower side of the same.

If in a tube of this character and if under the conditions mentioned, a finely comminuted ore is fed the values of which become suspended in liquids, the suspended values will be carried to. the point of-overflow in the upper current while the heavier particles move downwardly in the lower current to the bottom of the tube.

The above stated principle of ore concentration, I have embodied in a machine of efiicient construction and practical capacity,

by the means shown in a preferred form in the accompanying drawings in the two views of which like parts are similarly designated, and in which 7 Figure l representsa section in a plane of the vertical axis of my improved concentrator, and

- Figure 2, a horizontal section taken on the line 22, Figure 1.

Referring in detail to the drawings, my invention comprises essentially two stationary axially alined members of inverted conical form, the opposed inner and outer surfaces of which are spaced from each other to provide a slanting annular channel 5 in which the opposing currents are produced by a continuous supply of liquid.

The outer. element consists of a conical vessel 6 which is immovably supported upon a suitable foundation structure.

The vessel has at its bottom a discharge opening for the residue of the concentrating action, which connects with a downwardly extending conduit 7 and it is at its upper end surrounded by an annular trough 8 which receives the overflowing liquid carrying the values in suspension.

The inner element comp-rises a conical core 9 which is spaced from the interior surface of the vessel to form the outwardly flarin annular channel 5 hereinbefore referre to.

The core is vertically adjustably suspended from a superposed beam 10 .of the supporting structure through the medium of a plurality of screws 12 which are connected at. the upper edge of the cone and pass through openings in the beam, nuts 13 above and below the openings providing a convenient means for their up and downward adjustment.

The channel between the two conical elements at the lower ends thereof is divided by a partition 14 shaped in conformity with its spaced surfaces and is rigidly connected with the wall of the vessel 6 by spacing lugs 15.

A conduit 16 communicating with an opening in the bottom of the conical partition, passes axially through the before-mentioned discharge conduit 7 to connect exteriorly thereof with sources for the supply of water and material to be treated through the medium of branch pipes 17 and 18.

Disposed between the bottom surfaces of the inner cone and the correspondingly formed partition are a pair of agitators 19 and 20 of suitable construction which are mounted at the lower ends of two shafts 21 and 22 one of which is tubular for the passage of the other.

The shafts carry at their upper ends above the vessel 6 beveled gear wheels 23 and 24: which mesh with a pinion 25 on a horizontal drive shaft 26 for their simultaneous rotation in opposite direction.

The outer, tubular shaft passes through a stufling box 27 inside the hollow inner cone of the concentrator and the inner shaft is supported in a bearing of lignum-vitee or other similar substance placed between the agitators.

The two shafts are furthermore supported in bearings 29 and 30 on the beams 10 and 31 of the supporting structure, the lower one of which serves also as a support for" the suspended inner cone, as hereinbefore described.

The three cones of the apparatus are preferably made of galvanized iron and they may be braced and reenforced by any convenient means and in any suitable manner.

In the operation of the concentrator, the ore or other material to be treated is, together with a continuous supply of water, fed into the space between the partition 14 in the lower portion of the annular channel 5, and the inner cone 9.

The constant discharge of the liquid at the upper end'of the channel causes the formation of two currents one of which flows upwardly along the slanting wall of the inner cone, while the other moves in the opposite direction along the inner surface of the outer cone. c

The oppositely rotating agitators function in conjunction with the partitioning cone 14 to prevent the infiowing feed from mixing with the tailings and also aid in holding the values in suspension in the liquid within the slanting annular channel.

The suspended values are carried by the up-flowing current to the overflow at the upper end of the channel across which they pass into the trough 8 which as usual is provided with a discharge conduit 32, and the heavier particles which constitute the tailings of the parts thereof may be resorted to without departing from the principle of my invention. What I claim and desire to secure by-Let 'ters Patent is 1. In an ore concentrator, the combination of an outer cone and an inner cone forming an annular channel for grading ore-particles carried in an aqueous medium into concentrates and tailings, an overflow conduit disposed to receive material passing across the upper edge of the outer cone, an intermediate cone dividing the lower portion of the channel into receiving and discharge compartments, means revolving in opposite directions in said receiving compartments for a itating the pulp, and means for receiving pu p to and discharging pulp from the respective compartments.

2. In an ore concentrator, the combination of an outer cone and an inner cone forming an annular channel for grading ore-particles carried in an aqueous medium into concentrates and tailings, an overflow conduit disposed to receive material passing across the upper edge of the outer cone, an intermediate cone dividing the lower portion of the channel into receiving and. discharging compartments, a pair of agitators working in the receiving compartment, means for revolving the agitators in opposite directions, and means for receiving pulp to and discharging pulp from the respective compartments.

3. In an ore concentrator, the combination of an outer cone and an inner cone forming an annular channel for grading ore-particles carried in an aqueous medium into concentrates and tailings, an overflow conduit disposed to receive material passing across the upper edge of the outer cone, an intermediate cone dividing the lower portion of the channel into receiving and discharge compartments, upper and lower agitators working in the receiving compartment, concentric shafts carrying said agitators, means for revolving the agitators in opposite directions, and means for receiving pulp to and discharging pulp from the respective compartments.

4. In an ore-concentrator, the combination of a supporting structure, an outer cone and an inner cone forming an annular channel for grading ore-particles carried in an aqueous medium into concentrates and tailings, an overflow conduit disposed to receive material passing across the upper edge of the outer cone, an intermediate cone dividing the lower portion of the channel into receivin and discharge compartments, a pair of agitators Working in the receiving compartment, an outer tubular agitator-shaft positioned in hearings on the supporting structure and lower portion of the inner cone,

an inner concentric agitator-shaft posi-' tioned in bearings on the supporting structure and intermediate cone, means for revolving the agitators, and means for receiving pulp to and discharging pulp from the respective compartments.

5. In an ore concentrator, the combination of an outer cone, and an inner cone forming an annular channel for grading oreparticles carried in an aqueous'medium into concentrates and tailings, an overflow conduit disposed to receive material passing across the upper ed e of the outer cone,a11 intermediate cone ividing the lower portion of the channel into receiving and discharge compartments, means for feeding pulp to the intermediate cone, means for agitating the pulp in the intermediate cone, means for discharging the concentrates, and means for discharging the tailings.

6. Tn an ore concentrator, inner and outer cones formin a continuously slanting annular channe between them, one of said cones being mounted for vertical adjustment with relation to the other, an overflow conduit disposed to receive material passing across the upper edge of the outer cone, and means for feeding an aqueous material into the channel at the lower end thereof whereby to produce oppositely directed currents of light and heavy constituents of the material in the channel, the channel having means for the separate discharge of the ouger current at the lower end of the channe 7. In an ore concentrator, inner and outer cones forming an annular channel between them, one of said cones being mounted for vertical adjustment with relation to the other, a partition in the lower portion of the channel, fixed with relation to one of said cones, an overflow conduit to receive material passing across the upper edge of the outer cone, means for feeding material into the space between the partition and the inner cone, and means for separately discharging tailings from the space between the partition and the outer cone. a

8. In an ore concentrator, inner and outer walls of continuously slopin inverted-conical form, forming an annu ar channel between them, a slmilarly formed partition dividing the lower portion of the channel, exclusive of its upper portion, an overflow conduit disposed to receive material passing across the upper edge of the outer wall, means for feeding aqueous material into the space between the partition and the inner wall, and means for the separate discharge of tailings from the space between the partition and the outer wall.

9. In an ore concentrator, the combination of an outer cone and an inner cone formin an annular channel for grading ore particles carried in an aqueous medium, into concentrates and tailings, an overflow conduit disposed to receive material passing across the upper edge of the outer cone, means for feeding material into the channel rents of light and heavy constituents of the material in the channel, the channel having means for discharging the material in the lower current from the lower compart-' ment.

11. In an ore concentrator, a channel continuously slanting to a point of overflow at the upper edge of the lower wall thereof, and means for feeding an upwardly directed stream of aqueous material into the channel at the lower end thereof whereby to produce oppositely directed currents of li ht and heavy constituents of the material, t e channel having means for dividing said currents and separately discharging the material in the downwardly directed current at the lower end thereof.

12. In an ore concentrator, a channel of inverted conical form, continuously slanting to a point of overflow at ,the upper edge of the lower wall thereof, and means for feeding an upwardlydirected stream of aqueous material into the channel at the lower end thereof whereby to produce oppositely directed currents of light and heavy constituents of the material, the channel having means for dividing said currents and sep arately discharging the material in the downwardly directed current at the lower end thereof.

- lln testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

JOHN li. MULLEN.

for feeding 

